The William Archer

The following story is part of Memories of Wednesbury High Street, a collaboration between artists, Iain Armstrong and Jo Löki, involving participation from a variety of Wednesbury residents. You can look through the photographs while you listen to people’s stories. For more information on the project and to view more stories, visit here.

The William Archer

The William Archer pub has a long history in Wednesbury. Formerly The George Inn, it sits at Five Ways on the corner of Union Street and Upper High Street on the site of the original George Hotel that was demolished and replaced with The George Inn. In 2018, The George Inn was purchased by Amber Taverns and, at the request of the new landlady Claire Livesey, was renamed The William Archer. Bill Archer, as he was known, ran Freda’s clothes shop on Union Street for many years before becoming a local councillor in 1974, and Mayor of Sandwell in 2005.
Claire Livesey talks about becoming landlady of, what was formerly, The George Inn and her decision to rename it The William Archer.
Elaine Costigan, William (Bill) Archer’s daughter, remembers her father and the family’s delight at the decision to name the pub after him. 
Claire Livesey describes The William Archer pub and shares her memories of it as The George Inn when she went drinking there in her youth. 

ⓘ To see more, and to read captions, click on the photographs.

  • The George Inn (courtesy of Ian Bott)
  • The George Inn being demolished and moved further back on the Union Street junction (courtesy of The History Of Wednesbury)
  • The George Inn. 1970s Postcard (courtesy of Teresa Davies)
  • The George Inn (courtesy of The History Of Wednesbury)
  • Elaine Costigan's grandmother, Maggie Archer (right) pulling her pint. When she worked there it was called The George Hotel
  • William John Archer was a Royal Marine
  • William John Archer, Royal Marine
  • William Archer and family on a holiday in 1961
  • Freda Archer outside her shop Freda in Spring Head. 1970
  • William Archer in his Wednesbury shop (Freda) on Union Street
  • William Archer was also a baritone singer, he was known as the singing Mayor
  • William Archer was always in the Express and Star. Newspaper cutting, 1978
  • William Archer standing proud in his beloved Wednesbury, 1980
  • William Archer standing proud in his beloved Wednesbury, 1980
  • William Archer, The George Inn, 2006
  • William Archer Mayor and Elaine Costigan (nee Archer)
  • Willam Archer and his wife
  • William Archer 90th birthday and 70th wedding anniversary, newspaper cutting
  • William Archer being interviewed on the installation of a bench in Union Street, for his dedication to the people of Wednesbury, 2017
  • William Archer's town centre bench
  • The George Inn before becoming The William Archer (Image courtesy of Whatpub)
  • William Archer's Military funeral
  • The renaming of The George Inn to The Willam Archer (image courtesy of Elaine Costigan)

Images in this gallery were shared by project participants working with visual artist, Jo Löki.  They were collected, edited, adapted and digitised into photo-albums © Jo Löki / Memories Of Wednesbury High Street.  With special thanks to Elaine Costigan, Ian Bott and Teresa Davies who gave their time, access to personal collections and memories of Wednesbury High Street. Their vital contributions add to the conversations around Wednesbury’s rich heritage.